Paperboard wrapper for cans and the like



March 18, 1958 H. e. GENTRY 2,327,165

PAPERBOARD WRAPPER FOR CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

HRMOND G. GENTRY A TTORNE r-s March 18, 1958 PAPERBOARD WRAPPER FOR CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 9, 1956 H. G. GENTRY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "M wail;

6 2e b i Z6 "IWIIMWM V INVENTOR.

IIERMOND G. GENTR'Y aawe.

4 TTOPNE Y6 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Le- M A T'TOIENEVS March 18, 1958 H. e. GENTRY PAPERBOARD WRAPPER FOR CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 9, 1956 PAPERBOARD WRAPPER FOR'CANS AND THE LIKE Appiication August 9, 1956, Serial No. 602,968 9 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to paperboard wrappers of the type adapted for packaging cylindrical objects, such as cans, by folding about a group of cans or the like to form an open-ended package, and more specifically to a wrapper of this sort arranged particularly for packaging a group of cans arranged in a single line or row.

The paperboard wrapper of the present invention constitutes a modification of the form of wrapper disclosed and claimed in copending application Serial No. 459,918, filed October 4, 1954, now Patent No. 2,786,572, in which the disclosure relates primarily to a wrapper formed to package two rows of cans or the like, with end portions of the wrapper proportioned to overlap medially of the package at an end of the cans therein and arranged to be secured by locking tabs at the space resulting medially in the package from the cylindrical form of the cans, and with apertures formed in the respective wrapper end portions ,at locations falling within the diameter of cans in the package so as to provide for gripping these end portions to draw the wrapper tightly about the cans being packaged therein and to hold the end portions in proper overlapping relation until secured by the locking tabs.

The wrapper of the present invention, because it is arranged particularly for packaging a single row of cans or the like, is formed with end portions that are proportioned to overlap completely across an end of the cans in the group to be packaged so as to allow formation of the locking tabs adjacent a side of the package in alignment with the space therein resulting from the cylindrical form of the cans, which results only adjacent the sides of the package when a single line or row of cans is being packaged. In providing completely overlapping wrapper end portions for this purpose, however, further special provision must be made to allow for gripping of the end portions efiectively so as to draw the wrapper tightly about the row of cans being packaged and hold the end portions in place properly while they are being secured in accordance with the disclosure of the above noted copending application, and the wrapper of the present invention is arranged to particular advantage for accomplishing these purposes as described in further detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a paperboard wrapper embodying the present invention as it appears secured about a package group of cans or the like;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view corresponding generally to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a further transverse sectional detail taken substantially on the line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank for the wrapper shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of modified form of blank arranged for packaging a greater number of cans in a row than the blank shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a further modified blank arranged for packaging a still greater number of cans in a row.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the paperboard wrapper of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 1, as indicated generally by the reference character W, comprises a top wall panel 10 which may be arranged with clearance apertures 12 for accommodating the tops of necked cans C such as are represented by broken lines in Fig. 1, or this top wall panel 10 may be otherwise arranged in any suitable manner to be gripped or held for carrying at handheld apertures or the like (not shown), although a single line package of the type formed with the wrapper W of the present invention is usually narrow enough inwidth to be carried comfortably without requiring any special carrying means. At the opposite side edges of the top wall panel 10, a pair of side wall panels 14 is foldably hinged, and a pair of bottomed lap panels 16 and 18 is foldably hinged at the respective bottom edges of the side Wall panels 14 and proportioned to overlap completely across the bottom end of the cans C. The resulting wrapper W forms a rectangular foursided package having the ends thereof entirely open as seen in Fig. l.

The top wall panel 19, side wall panels 14, and bottom lap panels 16 and 18 comprise portions of a unitary blank (seeFig; 5) which is rectangular in form and is transversely scored to arrange these portions in a foldably hinged series, with all of the portions having an equal length (i. e., a length corresponding to the blank width) that is substantially equal to the multiple diameter of the cans C in the row to be packaged, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. The bottom lap panels 16 and 18 when overlapped form a bottom wall having a width equal to that of the top wall panel 10 and corresponding with the diameter of the cans C, and the side wall panels 14 are proportioned in correspondence with the height of the cans C, so as to arrange the wrapper W for enclosing a single line or row of the cans C as previously mentioned, each side wall panel 14 being suitably notched adjacent its 'foldably hinged edges to provide positioning slots for the cans C along each side wall 14 as indicated at 29.

The wrapper W as arranged in the above noted manner is adapted to be folded and secured about a load or package group of cans C during a packaging operation, the lap panels 16 and 18 being formed with respectively aligned retaining and locking tabs 22 and 24 for interlocking engagement to secure the wrapper W in the manner disclosed and claimed in the above noted copending application Serial No. 459,918. In this connection, reference should also be made to U. S. Patent No. 2,751,730, issued June 26, 1956, and to copending application Serial No. 593,604, filed June 25, 1956, for further details of the packaging operation and of the manner in which the retaining and locking tabs 22 and 24 are interlocked to secure the wrapper W. In the present case, the locking tab 24 is formed adjacent the free edge of the outer lap panel 18 so as to locate it at the space within the wrapper W between the cans C that results from their cylindrical form, as shown best in Fig. 2, and thereby allow the locking tab 24 to be' extended from the lappanel 18 in a which it is formed inwardly through the other lap panel 16 at the opening formed therein by the respectively aligned retaining tab 22, as illustrated in Fig. 3. p

The bottom half laps 16 and 18 are each further formed with apertures 26 and 28 at which they may be 1 gripped to draw the wrapper W tightly about the cans C to be packaged therein and to hold the lap panels .16

and 18 in proper overlapping relation for extension of the locking tab 24 to securing position, in the manner disclosed at length in the above noted copending application Serial No. 593,604. The apertures 26 and 28 preferably have a generally triangular form with an apex thereof extending toward the free edge of the lap panel 16 or 18 in which they are formed and aligned in the direction in which theselap panels 16 and 18 must be drawn ,to' tightenthewrapp'etW about the cans. Q, so that a wedge shaped opening is provided at the apertures 26"and 28 which'maybe grippled to applytightening pressuretto the best advantage, V t 7 Also, the apertures 26 and '28 are advantageously formed with the entire area thereof. occupied by slit tabs '26 and 28 that are arranged {to remain hinged on the wrapper W along the base or side ofthe triangular apertures 26 and 28 that is opposite-the above mentioned extending apexthere'of. In this way; it is possible "to avoid removing wastecutouts in the blank for'the-wrapper ,W and thereby lessen substantially the=difficultyof maintaining the'blanks free of these Waste cutouts which can cause considerable trouble-*in handlingssthe: blanks through a subsequent packaging operation. i

The lap panels 16 and 18ar'e' also specially formed according 'to the present'invention for providing-clearance at all of the apertures 26 and 28 to allow' gripping of the wrapper W thereat; For this purposegtheiouter lap panel 18 has the ends thereof notched as'illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 at 30 to clear the apertures 26 in the.

lap panel 16, and the inner laplpanel 16 :is formed with enlarged clearance openings or aperture .32, which may have slit tabs 32' remaininghinged 'therein, and which are positioned to register the enlarged form thereof with. the outer lap panel apertures 28 sons to allow extension of a gripping rneans (not shown) through the-apertures 28 adequatelyforiapplya ing gripping pressure thereat. In this connection, it may be noted that the slit tabs 26', 28' and 32. thatmay be allowed to remain hinged within the apertures '26, 28 and 32aresimply foldably displaced inwardly of the=wrappe1i W by a gripping means when applied at any ofthese apertures, all of the apertures 26, 28'and 32 b'eing located to fall Within the diameter of a can- Cpac'kaged- Within the wrapper W sothat clearance for such inward displacement is provided by the conventional recessed end structure of acan C or thelike, 'as illustratedin- Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate 'the mannerinwhich the blank shown in Fig. 5 may be adapted to form awrapper W arranged for packaginga greater'number of 'cansC 'ina row, the Fig. 6 blank-beingarranged forpackaging arowof three cansfC, ai1d tlie F ig, 7 blanka row of fou'r;

while the Fig. S'is formed'for only two cans C.l The blanks in Figs. 6- and 7 are'bo'th' arranged' -insubstantial correspondence With .the- Fig. 5 blankgboth having respective top Wall} panels 10'fand'10, with pairs of side wall panels 14'' and 14" foldably hinged thereon and pairs of lap panels '16'-and'18", and 16' and "18",

foldably hinged on the side wall panels, as well as positioning slots 20' and 20"spacedalong the hinged edges of the side wall panels 14' and 14".

The blanks in Figs. 621ml '7' are; however, varied -in V proportions from the blankinFig; 5 to'illustrate the Herd-- bility of the wrapper Wjfor any variation-in can'size. Also, the Fig. 6 blank; being arranged to "accommodate a row of three cans C, is formed with' twofsets' ofretspectively alignedretainingiand locking' tabs 22" and 2 4',

and the Fig. 7 blank with'three sets of retainingandlock ing tabs 22" and 24f infrelation, tothe'rpw; of fonr cans V C it is arranged to package, so that theseftabs in each:

case are aligned with the sp'aces between-thecansc and are increased in numberas the length of the row increases.

In addition, it should be notedthat the blank 7 is shownrformed with gripping apertures 34 and 36- in the,

respective lap panels' l6' andf' 181 that have no slittabj remaining hinged therein to-- illustrate .the possibility"of forming the gripping apertures in this way if desired.: 'The outer lappanel 18 in fig; .6 is. notched at 730' so as to clear thegnppmg apertures 34 inthe inner lap panel 16', and this inner lap panel 16' 36 and the enlarged aperture 38'both being located to fall within the diameter of the middle can C of the row to be packaged, While theinner'lap panel apertures 34 are located at the respective end cans C, The Fig. 7

blank has gripping-apertures 4G and 42' arranged in the lap panels 16 and 18" thereof With slit tabs 40"and 42' remaining hinged therein, with the lap panel 18" notched at 39" and the lap panel 16" formed with an enlarged registering aperture 44 and slit tabs 44' therein, as in the Fig. 5 blank, but has these apertures spaced to fall within the' diametersof separate cans C in the row to be'packaged, as inethe. Fig. 6 blank.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes ofillustration only and is not int tended to belimited by'this description or otherwise 7 except as'defined in the appended claims,

I claim: a

l. A'package of cylindrical objects such asscans, said package comprising a four-sided rapperwith'open ends 7 and a row of said objects enclosed thereby,- said wrapper comprisinga substantially rectangular paperboardblank scored transversely and transversely foldedabout said objects and having its'end-portions overlapped completely across an end of 'saidobjects with means securing'said wrapper portions together, eachof; said end portions having at leasttwo apertures formed therein to allow gripping of said end portions by forcesactingin opposite directions for drawingsaid wrapperltightly about said objects and holding said end portions-in; proper overlapping relation for securing, the outer overlapped end portion being notched to expose .the apertures in the inner overlapped end thereat.

2. A package of cylindricalobjects ;as defined in claim 1 and'further characterized inthat said apertures are triangular in formrwith an apex thereof extending toward the free edge 'ofathe'end portion innwhichit is' formed and aligned in the direction in} which said end portion must be drawn to tighten said wrapper'about said objects. 4 g is y a a 3. A package of cylindrical objects as defined in-iclaim 2 and further characterized-in that said apertures are formed withthe entire area thereof occupied by slit tabs remaining hingedto said wrapper along the base of said apertures opposite-said'apex.

4. A package of cylindrical objects as defined in claim 1 and further characterized fill that said'apertures are formed in said endportions at locations, falling within 7 6. A package of cylindrical objects, such as cans, said package-comprisinga four-sided wrapper with open 'ends and a row of said objects enclosed thereby, said wrapper 7 comprising a substantially rectangular paperboard blank scored transversely and transversely folded about said objects and having its endportions overlapped completely across an end of said objects and secured thereat-by means comprisingat least one locking tab formed at the 7 free edgeiof the outer of said overlapping end portions in alignment with the space in said package resulting from the cylindrical form of said'objects and aligned with an opening cutout in the other of said end portions, said has an enlarged registering aperture 38 formed therein to provide grippmg clearance at the outer lap panel aperture 36, thls aperture" portion for gripping of said Wrapper locking tab in securing position being extended from the end portion in which it is cut out inwardly through the other end portion at the opening formed therein, and each of said end portions being formed with apertures therein to allow gripping of said end portions by forces acting in opposite directions for drawing said wrapper tightly about said objects and holding said end portions in proper overlapping relation for extension of said locking tab to securing position, said apertures being formed in said end portions at locations falling within the diameter of objects enclosed by said wrapper, and the outer overlapped end portion being notched to expose the apertures in the inner overlapped end portion for gripping of said wrapper.

7. A paperboard blank forming a four-sided wrap er with open ends to package a row of cylindrical objects, such as cans, said blank having an elongated rectangu ar form and having four transverse score lines therein aced for defining a first panel arranged centrally with respect to the length of said blank, a pair of panels folds; ly hinged at opposite edges of said first panel, and a pair of lap panels fcldably hinged respectively at the edges of said pair of panels opposite said first panel edges, said blank having a width corresponding to the multiple diameter of the objects in said row to be packaged, the score lines defining said first panel being spaced correspond ence with the diameter of said objects, the score lines defining said pair of panels being spaced in correspondence with the height of said objects, and said pair of lap panels each being proportioned in a width corresponding substantially with that of said first panels for overlapping completely across an end of said objects and securing thereat, each of said lap panels being formed with apertures therein for gripping to draw said wrapper tightly about said objects and hold said lap panels in proper overlapping relation for securing, the lap panel adapted for overlapping exteriorly being notched to expose the apertures in the other lap panel and thereby allow gripping of said wrapper at said last mentioned apertures.

8. A paperboard blank forming a four-sided wrapper with open ends to package a row of cylindrical objects, such as cans, said blank having an elongated rectangular form and having four transverse score lines therein spaced for defining a first panel arranged centrally with respect to the length of said blank, a pair of panels foldably hinged at opposite edges of said first panel, and a pair of lap panels foldably hinged respectively at the edges of said pair of panels opposite said first panel edges, said blank having a width corresponding to the multiple diameter of the objects in said row to be packaged, the score lines defining said first panel being spaced in correspondence with the diameter of said objects, the score lines defining said pair of panels being spaced in correspondence with the height of said objects, and said pair of lap panels each being proportioned in a width corresponding substantially with that of said first panel, one of said lap panels having at least one locking tab formed at the free edge thereof in alignment with the space between said objects that results from the cylindrical form thereof when packaged in a row, said locking tab being aligned with an opening cut out in the other of said lap panels, whereby said locking tab may be extended from the lap panel in which it is formed inwardly through the other lap panel of said pair at the opening formed therein for securing said lap panels in overlapped relation and maintaining said row of objects tightly enclosed within the wrapper formed by said blank, and each of said lap panels being formed with apertures therein for gripping to draw said wrapper tightly about said objects and hold said lap panels in proper overlapping relation for securing, the lap panel formed with said locking tap being notched to expose the apertures in the other lap panel and thereby allow gripping of said wrapper at said last mentioned apertures upon overlapping of said lap panels.

9. A paperboard blank as defined in claim 8 and further characterized in that said other lap panel is formed with enlarged clearance openings registering with the apertures in the lap panel formed with said locking tab.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,559,948 Currie July 10, 1951 2,588,791 Andrews Mar. 11, 1952 2,646,202 Gibbons July 21, 1953 2,708,066 Caraher May 10, 1955 2,721,689 Nye Oct. 25, 1955 2,768,741 Currie Oct. 30, 1956 

